U.S. patent number 9,104,374 [Application Number 13/723,124] was granted by the patent office on 2015-08-11 for electronic device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is Yung-Hsiang Chen, Wen-Yi Chiu, Kuan-Yu Chou, Chao-Tung Hsu, Chih-Yin Lai, Chia-Sheng Liu, Hsiang-Ling Liu, Hui-Jou Tsai, Chuan-Hao Wen, Chun-Huang Yu. Invention is credited to Yung-Hsiang Chen, Wen-Yi Chiu, Kuan-Yu Chou, Chao-Tung Hsu, Chih-Yin Lai, Chia-Sheng Liu, Hsiang-Ling Liu, Hui-Jou Tsai, Chuan-Hao Wen, Chun-Huang Yu.
United States Patent |
9,104,374 |
Tsai , et al. |
August 11, 2015 |
Electronic device
Abstract
An electronic device including a first body, an input module and
a functional element is provided. The input module is movably
disposed on the first body and adapted to be moved between a first
position and a second position. The functional element is disposed
on the input module. When the input module is located at the first
position, the functional element is concealed in the first body.
When the input module is located at the second position, the
functional element is exposed outside the first body.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Hui-Jou (Taipei,
TW), Chen; Yung-Hsiang (Taipei, TW), Chiu;
Wen-Yi (Taipei, TW), Chou; Kuan-Yu (Taipei,
TW), Wen; Chuan-Hao (Taipei, TW), Yu;
Chun-Huang (Taipei, TW), Hsu; Chao-Tung (Taipei,
TW), Lai; Chih-Yin (Taipei, TW), Liu;
Chia-Sheng (Taipei, TW), Liu; Hsiang-Ling
(Taipei, TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tsai; Hui-Jou
Chen; Yung-Hsiang
Chiu; Wen-Yi
Chou; Kuan-Yu
Wen; Chuan-Hao
Yu; Chun-Huang
Hsu; Chao-Tung
Lai; Chih-Yin
Liu; Chia-Sheng
Liu; Hsiang-Ling |
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei
Taipei |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
(Taipei, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
48902697 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/723,124 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20130201617 A1 |
Aug 8, 2013 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61596707 |
Feb 8, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/1633 (20130101); H05K 5/0217 (20130101); G06F
1/1616 (20130101); G06F 1/1675 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
1/16 (20060101); H05K 5/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;361/679.28,679.3,679.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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292371 |
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Dec 1996 |
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TW |
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M431359 |
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Jun 2012 |
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TW |
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Primary Examiner: Haughton; Anthony
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jianq Chyun IP Office
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority benefits of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 61/596,707, filed on Feb. 8, 2012. The
entirety of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby
incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic device, comprising: a first body; an input module,
movably disposed on the first body and adapted to be moved between
a first position and a second position, wherein an user is able to
operate the input module at the second position; and a functional
element, disposed on the input module, wherein when the input
module is located at the first position, the functional element is
concealed in the first body, and when the input module is located
at the second location, the functional element is exposed outside
the first body and is capable of connecting an external device.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the input
module is a keyboard.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
functional element is a connection port.
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a
second body, wherein the second body is pivoted to the first body,
when the second body covers the first body, the input module is
located at the first position, and when the second body rotates
relative to the first body so that an included angle between the
second body and the first body is greater than a specific angle,
the second body drives the input module to move to the second
position.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the input
module is pivoted to the first body and has an input surface, and
the input module is adapted to rotate relative to the first body
from the first position to the second position so as to drive the
input surface to be tilted.
6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the input
module has a side surface, the functional element is disposed on
the side surface, when the input module is located at the first
position, the side surface is located in the first body, and when
the input module is moved from the first position to the second
position, the input module drives the side surface to rise relative
to the first body and the side surface is exposed outside the first
body.
7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
electronic device further comprises a flexible printed circuit
board connected between the functional element and the first
body.
8. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a
fan, wherein the fan is fixed on the first body or the input
module, an end of the fan has a flexible cover body connected
between the first body and the input module and having an outlet,
and when the input module is moved from the first position to the
second position, the flexible cover body is expanded and then the
outlet is enlarged.
9. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a
speaker, wherein the speaker is fixed on the first body or the
input module, an end of the speaker has a flexible cover body
connected between the first body and the input module and having a
sound export, and when the input module is moved from the first
position to the second position, the flexible cover body is
expanded and then the sound export is enlarged.
10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the input
module comprises: an input module main body; and a shell body,
movably connected to the first body, wherein the input module main
body and the functional element are fixed on the shell body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronic device, more particularly to
an electronic device having an input module.
2. Description of Related Art
With rapid development in technology and the availability of
various portable devices, users are able to receive and send data
at any time and anywhere with portable devices such as notebook
computers, smart phones, tablet PCs, and etc.
Take notebook computers as an example, most notebook computers are
equipped with functional elements such as a connection port for the
users to plug in an external device or a connection wire. Since the
connection port is mostly disposed on the side of the notebook
computer, the side of the casing certainly has to be thicker than
the connection port in order to completely cover the connection
port. As a result, current designs of the connection port directly
restrict the development of light and slim notebook computers. In
addition, the connection port is mostly exposed on the side of the
notebook computers and therefore is likely to be contaminated by
dirt or liquid. Besides, the appearance of the notebook computers
is also affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an electronic device which is advantageous
for light and slim design, prevents a functional element from being
contaminated by dirt or liquid, and has a better appearance.
The invention provides an electronic device, including a first
body, an input module, and a functional element. The input module
is movably disposed on the first body and adapted to be moved
between a first position and a second position. The functional
element is disposed on the input module. When the input module is
located at the first position, the functional element is concealed
in the first body. When the input module is located at the second
position, the functional element is exposed outside the first
body.
In one embodiment of the invention, the input module is a
keyboard.
In one embodiment of the invention, the functional element is a
connection port.
In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further
includes a second body, wherein the second body is pivoted to the
first body. When the second boy covers the first body, the input
module is located at the first position; when the second body
rotates relative to the first body so that an included angle
between the second body and the first body is greater than a
specific angle, the second body drives the input module to move to
the second position.
In one embodiment of the invention, the input module is pivoted to
the first body and has an input surface. Moreover, the input module
is adapted to rotate relative to the first body from the first
position to the second position so as to drive the input surface to
be tilted.
In one embodiment of the invention, the input module has a side
surface and the functional element is disposed on the side surface.
When the input module is located at the first position, the side
surface is located in the first body; when the input module is
moved from the first position to the second position, the input
module drives the sides surface to rise relative to the first body
and then to be exposed outside the first body.
In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further
includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connected between the
functional element and the first body.
In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further
includes a fan, wherein the fan is fixed on the first body or the
input module. An end of the fan has a flexible cover body which is
connected between the first body and the input module and has an
outlet. Moreover, when the input module is moved from the first
position to the second position, the flexible cover body is
expanded and then the outlet is enlarged.
In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further
includes a speaker, wherein the speaker is fixed on the first body
or the input module. An end of the speaker has a flexible cover
body which is connected between the first body and the input module
and has a sound export. Moreover, when the input module is moved
from the first position to the second position, the flexible cover
body is expanded and then the sound export is enlarged.
In one embodiment of the invention, the input module includes an
input module main body and a shell body. The shell body is movably
connected to the first body, wherein the input module main body and
the functional element are fixed on the shell body.
Based on the above, the functional element of the invention is
disposed on the input module which may be moved relative to the
body of the electronic device, so that the functional element may
be concealed in the body of the electronic device or be exposed
outside the body via the movement of the input module. Accordingly,
users may allow the functional element to be exposed outside the
body of the electronic device when they would like to use the
functional element, and allow the functional element to be
concealed in the body of the electronic device when the functional
element is not in use, so as to prevent the functional element from
being contaminated by dirt or liquid as well as to allow the
electronic device to have a better appearance. In addition, since
the functional element is not disposed on the side surface of the
body of the electronic device, the side surface of the body of the
electronic device may have a smaller thickness to be advantageous
for light and slim design.
In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the
invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are
described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a stereogram of an electronic device in one embodiment
of the invention.
FIG. 1B is a stereogram of a second body in FIG. 1A unfolding from
the first body.
FIG. 2A is a side view of an electronic device in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2B is a side view of an electronic device in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 3A is a local side view of the electronic device in FIG.
2A.
FIG. 3B is a local side view of the electronic device in FIG.
2B.
FIG. 4A is a local enlargement of the electronic device in FIG.
2A.
FIG. 4B is a local enlargement of the electronic device in FIG.
2B.
FIG. 5A is a stereogram of a partial component of the electronic
device in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 5B is a stereogram of a partial component of the electronic
device in FIG. 2B.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1A is a stereogram of an electronic device in one embodiment
of the invention. FIG. 1B is a stereogram of a second body in FIG.
1A unfolding from the first body. FIG. 2A is a side view of an
electronic device in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2B is a side view of an
electronic device in FIG. 1B. Please refer to FIGS. 1A to 2B. An
electronic device 100 in the embodiment includes a first body 110,
a second body 120, an input module 130, and at least one functional
element 140 (two are illustrated). In the embodiment, the
electronic device 100 is, for example, a notebook computer. The
first body 110 and the second body 120 are, for example, a host of
the notebook computer and a display monitor, respectively. The
functional element 140 is, for example, a connection port which is
disposed on the input module 130 for users to plug in an external
device or a connection wire.
The input module 130, for example, includes a keyboard which is
movably disposed on the first body 110 and electrically connected
to a motherboard in the host (the first body 110) of the notebook
computer. The input module 130 is, for example, pivoted to the
first body 110 and adapted to rotate relative to the first body 110
to be moved between a first position P1 as shown in FIG. 2A and a
second position P2 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B. When the input
module 130 is located at the first position P1, the functional
element 140 is concealed in the first body 110. When the input
module 130 is located at the second position P2, the functional
element 140 is exposed outside the first body 110.
With the abovementioned disposition, the input module 130 may be
moved relative to the first body 110 of the electronic device 100
to allow the functional element 140 to be concealed in the first
body 110 of the electronic device 100 as shown in FIG. 2A or to be
exposed outside the first body 110 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B via
the movement of the input module 130. Accordingly, the user may
allow the functional element 140 to be exposed outside the first
body 110 of the electronic device 100 when using the functional
element 140 and allow the functional element 140 to be concealed in
the first body 110 of the electronic device 100 when the functional
element 140 is not in use, so as to prevent the functional element
140 from being contaminated by dirt or liquid as well as to allow
the electronic device 100 to have a better appearance. In addition,
since the functional element 140 is not disposed on the side
surface of the first body 110 of the electronic device 100, the
side surface of the first body 110 of the electronic device 100 may
have a smaller thickness to be advantageous for light and slim
design.
In the embodiment, for example, the second body 120 is used to
drive the input module 130 to move between the first position P1
and the second position P2. Specifically, when the second body 120
covers the first body 110 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, the input
module 130 is located at the first position P1. When the second
body 120 rotates relative to the first body 110 as shown in FIGS.
1B and 2B so that an included angle between the second body 120 and
the first body 110 is greater than a specific angle, the second
body 120 drives the input module 130 to move to the second position
P2. Accordingly, when the user unfolds the second body 120 from the
first body 110 in order to operate the electronic device 100, the
input module 130 is moved from the first position P1 to the second
position P2 as the included angle between the second body 120 and
the first body 110 increases. Therefore, the functional element 140
is exposed outside the first body 110 to allow the user to plug in
the external device or the connection wire. The specific angle is
in, for example, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, or other appropriate
degrees. The invention is not limited thereto.
In addition, the input module 130 has an input surface 130a. When
the second body 120 drives the input module 130 to rotate relative
to the first body 110 from the first position P1 to the second
position P2, the input surface 130a of the input module 130 is
tilted so that the user is able to operate the input surface 130a
in a more comfortable angle.
Please refer to FIG. 1B. In the embodiment, the input module 130
includes an input module main body 132 and a shell body 134. The
input module main body 132 is, for example, a keyboard. The shell
body 134 is movably connected to the first body 110 in a pivot
manner. The input module main body 132 and the functional element
140 are fixed on the shell body 134. By comparison, a conventional
keyboard of the notebook computer is disposed on the host and
unmovable, whereas in the embodiment, a movable shell body 134 is
disposed on the first body 110 and, the input module main body 132
as well as the functional element 140 are fixed on the shell body
134, so that the input module main body 132 may be tilted as shown
in FIG. 1B with the actuation of the shell body 134 relative to the
first body 110. Moreover, the functional element 140 may be exposed
outside the first body 140 as shown in FIG. 1B with the actuation
of the shell body 134 relative to the first body 110.
In the embodiment, the input module 130 has a side surface 130b,
and the functional element 140 is disposed on the side surface 130b
of the input module 130. When the input module 130 is located at
the first position P1, the side surface 130b of the input module
130 is located inside the first body 110 as shown in FIG. 2A so
that the functional element 140 is concealed. When the input module
130 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2,
the input module 130 drives the side surface 130b thereof to rise
relative to the first body 110 and the side surface is exposed
outside the first body 110 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B.
FIG. 3A is a local side view of the electronic device in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3B is a local side view of the electronic device in FIG. 2B.
Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B. More specifically, the electronic
device 100 in the embodiment has a first rod 52 and a second rod 54
in the first body 110. The first rod 52 is pivoted to the first
body 110, and the second rod 54 is pivoted to the first rod 52.
When the second body 120 rotates from a status as shown in FIG. 2A
to a status as shown in FIG. 2B, the second body 120 drives the
first rod 52 to move. Moreover, the first rod 52 drives the second
rod 54 to rotate from a status as shown in FIG. 3A to a status as
shown in FIG. 3B so that the input module 130 is pushed upward from
the first position P1 to the second position P2 by the second rod
54, thereby allowing the functional element 140 to be exposed
outside the first body 110.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second rod 54 has a bump 54a, and
the first body 110 has a slide groove 110a. The bump 54a is
arranged in a sliding manner in the slide groove 110a. The bump 54a
is adapted to slide between a position as shown in FIG. 3A and a
position as shown in FIG. 3B along the slide groove 110a so that
the first rod 52 and the second rod 54 are actuated in a manner as
shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In the embodiment, the second body 120,
for example, drives the first rod 52 to move via a gear. However,
the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the
second body 120 may drive the first rod 52 to move via other
appropriate components. In addition, in other embodiments, other
appropriate mechanism designs may be utilized to achieve the effect
of promoting the input module 130 to be moved. The invention is not
limited thereto.
FIG. 4A is a local enlargement of the electronic device in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 4B is a local enlargement of the electronic device in FIG. 2B.
Please refer to FIGS. 4A and 4B. In the embodiment, the electronic
device 100 further includes a flexible printed circuit board 150.
The flexible printed circuit board 150 is connected between the
functional element 140 and the first body 110. For example, the
flexible printed circuit board 150 is connected between a circuit
board 142 of a connection port (the functional element 140) and a
motherboard in a host (the first body 110) of the notebook
computer. With the flexibility characteristic of the flexible
printed circuit board 150, when the input module 130 is moved
between the first position P1 as shown in FIG. 2A and the second
position P2 as shown in FIG. 2B, the flexible printed circuit board
150 flexes correspondingly so that the input module 130 may actuate
smoothly and an electrical connection between the functional
element 140 and the first body 110 is maintained.
FIG. 5A is a stereogram of a partial component of the electronic
device in FIG. 2A. FIG. 5B is a stereogram of a partial component
of the electronic device in FIG. 2B. In order to make the drawings
more comprehensible, the second body 120 and the input module 130
as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are not illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
Please refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B. In the embodiment, the electronic
device 100 (as marked in FIGS. 2A and 2B) further includes a fan
160 and at least one speaker 170 (two are illustrated). The fan 160
and each speaker 170 are fixed on the first body 110. An end of the
fan 160 has a flexible cover body 162, and an end of each speaker
170 has a flexible cover body 172. The flexible cover body 162 is
connected between the first body 110 and the input module 130 as
shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and has an outlet 162a. Each flexible
cover body 172 is connected between the first body 110 and the
input module 130 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and has a sound export
172a. When the input module 130 is moved from the first position P1
as shown in FIG. 2A to the second position P2 as shown in FIG. 2B,
the flexible cover body 162 and the flexible cover body 172 are
expanded as the input module 130 rises, thereby enlarging the
outlet 162a and each sound export 172a so that the electronic
device 100 has good dissipation efficiency and sound exporting
quality. The invention provides no limitation to the disposition
location of the fan 160 and each speaker 170. In other embodiments,
the fan 160 and each speaker 170 may be disposed on the input
module 130.
To sum up, the functional element of the invention is disposed on
the input module which may be moved relative to the body of the
electronic device so that the functional element may be concealed
in the body of the electronic device or exposed outside the body
via the movement of the input module. Accordingly, the users may
allow the functional element to be exposed outside the body of the
electronic device when they would like to use the functional
element, and allow the functional element to be concealed in the
body of the electronic device when the functional element is not in
use, so as to prevent the functional element from being
contaminated by dirt or liquid as well as to allow the electronic
device to have a better appearance. In addition, since the
functional element is not disposed on the side surface of the body
of the electronic device, the side surface of the body of the
electronic device may have a smaller thickness to be advantageous
for light and slim design. Furthermore, when the second body is
expanded from the first body and then drives the input module to be
moved, the input surface of the input module is driven to be tilted
so that the user is able to operate the input surface in a more
comfortable angle, thereby increasing the comfort of operating the
electronic device.
Although the invention has been disclosed by the above embodiments,
the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. It will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made to the structure of the invention without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Therefore, the
protecting range of the invention falls in the appended claims.
* * * * *